Presenting Bringing Buffalo Back: The Return of the Labor Movement written by 2022 JBWC Youth Fellow Lindsay Cobb.
A conversation about writing, disability studies, and the politics of legibility with Youth Fellow Angelina Tang & project mentor Jessica Lowell Mason I want you, dear reader, to better understand those who perceive the world differently from you, and kindly be able to ask them, “So, what do you think?” - Angelina Tang “Is the way this narrative is constructed helping or harming those within the community being represented?” This is a question I think we, as writers, especially of fiction but within any genre, should be asking ourselves. - Jessica Lowell Mason
Presenting an excerpt of Autumn Flowers written by 2022 JBWC Youth Fellow Angelina Tang. Autumn Flowers is a story about being human. It is the journey of a girl who rises above her suffering and embraces herself, learning to accept her past and future; at the same time, it is an exploration of Chinese culture, flower language, and the effects of a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Looking back on a Spring 2022 collaboration with AK Teens, in which JBWC young writers collaborated with the AK Teens Museum Ambassadors to create a collaborative zine, titled Here's Where I Make A Little Space For You, in response to their exhibit In These Truths, which features work by Black cultural producers.
We are thrilled to announce the 2022 Just Buffalo Writing Center Youth Fellows, selected by novelist and final judge Gabriel Bump: Liam Cobb of Buffalo, NY and Angelina Tang of East Amherst, NY. Congratulations, Liam & Angelina!
Presenting a selection of three poems by 2021 JBWC Youth Fellow Sophie Zhu. Says Sophie, "I hope you keep three phrases in mind while reading these poems: the act of being human, a video game of syllables, Wolfgang Tillmans, and your people."
Presenting The Inbetween, a chapbook of poetry and art by 2021 JBWC Youth Fellow Millie Rae Rodriguez-Spencer. "Not only was this my first completed project," says Millie Rae, "but an enriching introduction to the Buffalo literary and poetry community that in turn ignited my passion for creating art again."
If you know Writing Center Coordinator Robin Lee Jordan, you know she's a person who supports, uplifts, and celebrates young writers every day at JBWC. We're excited to turn the tables today and celebrate Robin's writing and the recent release of her chapbook THEY ATE EACH OTHER UP.
JBWC Youth Ambassador Danny Merlino reflects on connections with the work of cartoonist & graphic novelist Alison Bechdel in this guest blog ahead of their JBWC workshop "Trends, Fads, and Phases: In Color!"
If you’ve resolved to get your story idea on the page this year, novelist & teaching artist Nishant Batsha is here to help! In this Q&A, Nishant joins us to talk about the writing process, woodworking as a metaphor for story form, and how to find a rhythm.